Decision
(a) That the principle of consolidating the Council’s office
requirements on the County Hall/Colliton Park site as
a ‘public service civic hub’ subject to the Council ensuring it takes due regard
to the requirements of the Equality Act 2010, be agreed;
(b) That the principle of utilizing any surplus space within the
County Hall/Colliton Park site for use by third
sector and other public sector bodies be agreed and to review the possibility to
repurpose and refurbish any such assets currently leased to and in use by them
for residential purpose or for disposal;
(c)
Agree to retain the Library facility in South Walks House with a Customer Access Point;
(d) That Cabinet reaffirms the principle that we are a member led
authority and that local Members should always be consulted on issues affecting
their Wards;
(e) That planning permission be sought to repurpose South Walks
House and South Annexe for residential use through a
process of refurbishing or redeveloping the existing buildings whilst retaining
the Library facility in South Walks House and a Customer Access point;
(f) Agree to the Council, whilst planning consent is being sought for the
repurposing of South Walks House and South Annexe for
residential use, to continue to explore and investigate alternative uses so as
to ensure that the Council achieves best commercial (including hotel use),
social and economic value prior to bringing forward the final recommendation to
Cabinet for approval as to future use.
Reason for the decision
The
effective use of the asset base will help enable the Council to meet its social
and financial challenges through asset disposals, generation of capital
receipts, savings in costs through the reduction, rationalisation and improved
efficiency of the estate and more importantly the generation of value through
income generation and the repurposing, redirecting and reuse of land and
buildings for housing, schools and other essential service needs.